Venetian blind



3, w. D. CLARK, .n 2,142,629

I VENETIAN BLIND Filed Jan. 29, 1936 Mum/W 0 CZmP/n/e IN VENTOR.

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Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND William D. Clark, Jr., Arlington, N. J.

Application January 29, 1936, Serial No. 61,272

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in louvers for Venetian blinds and this application constitutes a continuation in part of the division subject matter contained in my co-pending application Serial No. 14,977 filed April 6, 1935.

It is the purpose of the conventional type of Venetian blind to exclude light fromv the outside but permit of ventilation when the blind is in lowered position and to afford privacy within a dwelling from persons on'the outside thereof. The exclusion of light in some instances may not be desired but in Venetian blinds having wood louvers, the admission of light-into a room must be sacrificed for privacy from the outside. It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention to retain the ventilating and privacy features of the present conventional type of Venetian blind and yet admit a subdued light into a room when the blind is in fully closed position.

Another feature of the invention resides in a Venetian blind louver in which a novel means is provided for rigidly supporting the flexible body or panel, which flexible body or panel could not be used alone as a louver in view of the flex which would result when the same is suspended on the usual tapes or cords.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a translucent Venetian blind louver which permits of the interchanging of different color or designs of decoration panels to harmonize with changes of the interior decorations of a room.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a louver for Venetian blinds which is simple and inexpensive of construction, strong and durable for the purpose intended, and which is exceptionally decorative in appearance to add to the attractiveness of a room in which a Vanetian blind constructed of my improved louvers may be hung.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in. the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure -1 is a plan view of my Venetian blind louver.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the louver showing the panel partially extending from the open end of its supporting frame.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral l designates the preferred form of my Venetian blind louver in its entirety which includes an elongated rectangular shaped frame It consisting of a U-shaped frame section I! having spaced parallel longitudinal side rails 5 l3--l3 and a connecting bight portion ll connecting the rails 13 at one of their ends. The frame section, I! is constructed of a length of metal channel, the channels l5 thereof opening inwardly of the frame. The open end of the frame section I2 is closed by a removable bar l6 which fits into the channels of the side rails l3-l 3, but not until the translucent louver panel I1 is inserted into position within the frame section l2. 15 The translucent louver panel I? consists of a flexible translucent removable strip l8 which may be constructed of cardboard,'paper, or the like. Opposite sides of the strip may be colored or may contain decorative designs. The strip I8'is enclosed in a tubular open ended covering l9 to protect the strip from soiling and to impart a luster appearance to the panel. The covering l9 may be constructed of water-proof Cellophane, transparent or translucent, or other analogous materials such as wax paper, oil paper, parchment and the like. The tubular covering l9 flatly contacts the sides of the strip and is of a length approximately the length of the strip. Round or elongated slots 26-26 are provided in 30 the panel l'l adjacent each end thereof, the walls of which are protected by eyelets or grommets 21. The ropes or coils of a Venetian blind pass through the eyelets or grommets 21 when the louver is in use. The eyelets or grommets 21 also serve to bind the several thicknesses of material together to provide a single panel unit.

The panel is of a length and thickness to be inserted in the channels of the side rails l3-l3 through the open end of the frame section 12 40 to fill up the opening in the frame. After 111- sertion of the panel l'l into the frame section l2, the ends-0f the bar I6 are seated in the respective channels in the rails l3-l3 adjacent the free ends thereof. The cross bar l6 may be releasably held in position by friction or by other analogous means. The rails l3|3 serve to bind the longitudinal edges of the panel l1 and to prevent sagging of the panel lengthwise thereof.

If desired, two flat strips similar to the strip I8 may be employed, the same being of different colors and arranged flat against each other to provide distinguishing colors or designs on opposite sides of the louvers.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen 5 that by constructing a Venetian blind of louvers l0, a subdued light may enter a room when the blind is in a closed position, yet privacy within is assured from persons on the outside. By the use of different colored strips I8 or different colered covering I 5, various subdued light effects may be obtained in keeping with the color scheme or furnishings of a room.

Should an occasion arise to replace a damaged panel H, or change the decorative strip IS, the

end bar It may be removed the panel I! withdrawn from the frame section i2 and replaced by the substitute parts. Thus the panel I1 is interchangeable with respect to the supporting frame II by which changes in the light effects may be obtained without removing the frames 1 I from their suspending tapes or cords when the louvers iii are employed in a complete Venetian blind.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modification which includes a flexible panel 23 similar to the panel ll. Like the panel l1 above referred .to, the flexibility of the panel prevents the use of such panel alone for it would flex or sag when in use, therefore, I provide straight parallel rigid channel binding rails 24-24 attached to the longitudinal edges of the panel and embracing opposite sides thereof. The channel rails 24 may be constructed of relatively light stiff flexible metal and are the equivalent to the side rails l3--l3 and the opposed walls of the channels may be tightly pressed into engagement with the panel to secure the parts together.

By the construction of a Venetian blind of the louvers shown herein, a light but strong and rigid structure 'willresult, for the flexible translucent panel of each louver is stiffened by the channel rails and prevent sagging of the louver when a Venetian blind is in lowered position.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise structural details herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention limited by the appended claims,

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:--

l. A louver for Venetian blinds comprising a flexible translucent elongated panel consisting of a paper strip, a covering of flexible transparent waterproof covering material disposed on opposite sides of said paper strip, and metal channel strips embracing opposite longitudinal edges of said panel to hold the strip and covering material in bound relation and to. rigidly stiffen the longitudinal sides of said panel.

2. Ina louver for Venetian blinds, an elongated panel consisting of a flexible translucent strip, a covering of flexible transparent material disposed on opposite sides of said strip, and metal binding rails embracing opposite longitudinal edges of said panel to hold the strip and covering material in bound relation and to rig.- idly stiffen the longitudinal sides of said panel.

3. In a louver for Venetian blinds, an elongated panel consisting of a flexible translucent strip, a flat tubular covering of flexible transparent material enclosing said strip, and metal binding rails embracing opposite longitudinal edges of said panel to hold the strip and covering material in bound relation and to rigidly stiffen the longitudinal sides of said panel.

4. In a louver for Venetian blinds, an elongated panel consisting of a flexible translucent strip, a covering of flexible transparent material disposed on opposite sides of said strip, and metal binding rails embracing opposite longitudinal edges of said panel to hold the strip and covering material in bound relation and to rigidly stiffen the longitudinal sides of said panel, said strip and covering material having registering openings therein adjacent their ends for the 

